Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC)

Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC) was introduced in 2006-07 to make higher education in Indian Universities/Institutes in different fields (except medical and related courses) in India accessible to the children of overseas Indians (PIOs) and Non- resident Indian students (NRIs) and promote India as a centre for higher studies.

Ministry of External Affairs awards 150 scholarships to children (studying in India) of PIOs/NRIs and Indian workers working in ECR countries, with a monthly gross income of the parents not more than US$4000. A partial assistance to the extent of 75% (maximum of US$4000) of the total Institutional Economic Cost (IEC) per annum would be borne by Government of India under this scheme.The scholarship is meant for payment of tuition fee, admission fee and post admission services for Under Graduate courses in Engineering, Technology, Humanities, Liberal Arts, Commerce, Management, Journalism, Hotel Management, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and some other courses.

A revamped SPDC was launched from academic year 2016-17 with extension from 40 to 66 countries (including 17 ECR countries); enhancing number of scholarships from 100 to 150 with 50 earmarked for Children of Indian Workers in ECR counties. Of these 50 scholarships, 1/3rd are reserved for children of Indian workers in ECR countries studying in India. The entire process of applying, processing etc. is now through a portal (spdc.gov.in).

Scholarship is offered for pursuing courses in Central Universities of India offering Under Graduate Courses, including those pertaining to Information Technology, B.Sc (Nursing) and B.Pharma in Institutions accredited "A” Grade by NAAC; and Institutions covered under DASA Scheme, National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Schools of Planning and Architecture (SPAs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) etc. Applications are submitted and processed through a portal spdcindia.gov.in. Nearly 800 candidates were awarded scholarships since inception.